Sickle hook comparison

I purchased some # 6 Matzuo bronze sickle hooks. It looked like they would have a wider gap for better hook-ups.
I was disappointed to find that after comparing the sickle hook to a Mustad # 32756 the hooks are almost identical.
The difference is the sickle has a smaller barb and the Mustad actually has a wider space between the eye to the point of the hook. As far a sharpness it was hard to tell any difference between the two hooks. Maybe you get better penetration with the smaller barb on the sickle hook.
For now I am going to stick with the Mustad # 32756 and Eagle Claw# 570.Attachment 178494

please try those sickles, there is a difference in hookup ratio over the aberdeen bend hooks. I always grab the hook behind the barb with needlenose pliers and bend the hook just slightly to get the hooks point above the level of the line tie. I have turned some people on to this hook and now they won't use a jig without them. try the size 4's also, black chrome is my favorite finish.

Tried the sickles just don t like them. Don t like the point , don't like the bend and really don't like the cheap quality.

Haven't used anything but sickles for last 3 years!

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Originally Posted by redear

please try those sickles, there is a difference in hookup ratio over the aberdeen bend hooks. I always grab the hook behind the barb with needlenose pliers and bend the hook just slightly to get the hooks point above the level of the line tie. I have turned some people on to this hook and now they won't use a jig without them. try the size 4's also, black chrome is my favorite finish.

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I will give the hooks a try since I have 100 to work with.
I am sure opening the gap on the mustad hook would help also.
If you look closely at the picture of the two hooks stacked one on top of the other they are almost identical with the exception of the bends.

The old style aberdeens have caught fish for many years and still work! I still have about 5000 old stock Mustads and Eagle claws and will use them right along with the sickles - but with all the good reports on the Eagle claw sickles people are switching brands.

Don't doubt that someone else making the same style hook that many wouldn't go that way and as long as they are equal in sharpness I would try them, but also have used sickle hook for about 10 years and have had nothing to take their place yet. I do not pour my own so just tying and fishing here, but sickle hooks have caught many fishermen when they try them and see the difference they make.

When I first started strictly crappie fishing I started opening the bend on the Aberdeens as I knew nothing about sickles at the time. It was very rare that I hooked a fish anywhere but around the outside of the mouth, and had a lot of those pull free even when being careful not to. I was given a few sickles by someone and I haven't looked back. I have landed 2lb fish on a #6 sickle that was hooked deep into the roof of the mouth . I never had an Aberdeen bury itself in that area and it's common with the sickles. When I began pouring my own I took about 50 Aberdeens and 50 sickles and laid them on the pouring bench and poked at them with my index finger 5 or 6 times. After 3 pokes at the sickles I had 3 or 4 stuck in my finger, after 6 pokes with the Aberdeens I had 1. That spoke to me and I placed an order for 7000 sickle hooks. Still have some from that first order, and when pouring for others I seldom get a request for anything but sickles. Just my experience. They might not be for you, but they do well for me.

I also have become a fan of the sickle and have switched to the Eagle Claw brand. if I'm not fishing a lite-wire jig hook I use a sickle.